Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-01-07
ISR AEL HORN.
8 4 Story IS Censelenee.
rom the Cleveland Leader.

canyon ID the rocky Mountains.
Peaks Of granite crowned with ever
lasting bonnets Of snow. Forests Of
pine upon the lower mountain SIDES.
Arushing stream blending its mighty
soprano with the lnightier alto Of the
wind among the pines. Patches Of
brilliant foliage decking the rocks.
Here and there from behind q boulder,
q poppy like an eye Of blood looks
out. In the lower valley, along the
stream, there is . trailing drapery Of
vines and MOSES. Majesty on the
mountain. Music and beauty in the
valley. H. '}>.:s: y ~
Well above the stream. upon aledge
OF granite, stood cabin of slabs sof
pine. A wild thorn .clambered about
it's only window. Near BY, q burro;
or donkey ii the mountain country,
snuffed at the lobes OF giant cactus.
It was late in the afternoon; of a
summer day, and q short thick-set
man, whose face wore reckless yet
troubled expression, walked rapidly
to and fro upon the bank Of the
stream. He was we'll advanced in
years, and his bushy, unkempt hair
aud beard were iron gray. He was
clad in rusty brown lea ther garments,
save the shirt, which WAS of dark
blue flannel. At intervals of his walk
he stopped and listened. Again, he
turned and looked behind him as if he
expected some one orfeared some pur-
suer. He continued walking, listening,
and looking until the sable mantle of
the growing night fell about the shout
ders Of the mountain peaks. and
darkness settled upon everything.
With the coming OF night he turned
from his titful walk and entered the
cabin. Piling the fireplace with knots
OF pine he set fire to them, and the
flames soon filled the room with q
yellow glare.
Sitting upon the floor OF the cabin,
directly in front of the fire which sput-
tered, and snapped, and darted out
long tongues of flame, he clasped his
hands about his knees and
stared fixedly at the red Goals
and climbing flames. The
fire shifted constantly and assumed
all manner OF fantastic shapes. Sud
denly a dark face came into 1.-THE
face of q man. 1t wore an expression
of agony not unmixed with hatred.
The eyes were fixed and wide open.
The brow was deeply furrowed. There
were black bruises upon the right
cheek, and from hole in the left tenn
pie a stream OF blood oozed.
For more than an hour, save the
cracking and sputtering of the fire,
there was the silence OF death in the
cabin. With the stony eye of a
sphynx the man gazed at the staring
blood-stained face in the fire. His
features were composed but hard
and grim, and the terrible tension
about his mouth told of an awful
struggle of will to keep that
composure. With q hiss and a
crack like the snap OF a rifle, the clover
hall OF the face dropped, the mouth
Wldened, a red tongue was extended
and it spat burning sparks upon the
clasped hands OF the silent man.
Startled and angered by the sting OF
the sparks, he sprang to his feet
Courses on you'll" he hoarsely NUT
tered, "tain't no use you comm
here, You was guilty. l seen you.
Your arms was round her, an you
had her ON your knee an you was
kissin' her. I'd do it again, curse
you!'
With an air OF mingled bravado and
excited fear, the startled man walk
ed hurriedly to and. fro upon
the cabin floor. Presently he
turned and looked again into
the fire, but the face had vanished.
He was about to renew his walk, when
suddenly another face appeared, a
fair face-the face of g. woman. It
had gentle eyes and they looked pit
oeusly and reprcachfully at him.
He. sat down again and gazed ten
derby at this face. A tear trickled
down his cheek. Huskiiy, he whisper
ed, "Kate, it. g no use--it's no use.
done it cause I loved you. You
oughtn't to have let him hold you an
kiss you--but amt a bearin' you no
malice. / hope you've forgiven my
leavin' You. Your mem'ry's all l got
for comfort. Are you worritin' cause
can't come to you? It was him as
sent me from you, curse him!"
Taking up q branch from q pile of
pine-knots in corner OF he cabin,
he thrust it into the fire and stirred it
about until all semblance to the fair
face had disappeared.
II can't talk with you tonight,
Kate" he said; "good night"
Going to g. bed of wolf skins which
lay at the back of the cabin, he flung
himself upon them and was soon
asleep. s~e@%.s...
The procession of the sunrise, with
the pageantry Of crimson clouds and
banners OF gold, was moving over the
mountains when the sleeper awoke.
After q simple meal OF oaten cake, ne
mounted the burro and started down
the canyon. A ride OF few miles
brought him to- q scattered
village, consisting Of slab cabins
and huts Of clay. The glory of
the morning transformed the huts
and cabins into veritable fairy palaces
as he rode in the midst of them along
the narrow street Of the village. The
day dragged YEARLY, as he wandered
aimlessly hither and thither over
stretches of field and through patches
Of forest beyond the little town. Re-
turning, toward nightfall, he found q
crowd of miners and a few women and
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